Things to Plan
Step 1
Shop smart. Make one trip to the grocery store a week. This will cut down on excessive trips to the grocery store and thus cut down on impulse purchasing when every little craving hits you. Plan your meals for the week and only buy ingredients for those meals. Not only will this inspire healthy eating, it will also save you money.
Step 2
Plan your meals. Planning your meals for the week enables you to easily schedule them into each day of the week. If you know you want vegetarian lasagna on Friday, you will allow yourself the necessary time to prepare it. You can also see what meals you may need to prepare in advance. Preparing your meals and then storing them in the refrigerator or freezer will cut down on your kitchen time significantly.
Step 3
Prepackage your own snacks. For example, buy a bag of carrots and cut them up. Stick them in individual plastic zip bags for later. On your way out the door, just grab one of those bags. You have a fast snack that won't break your belt. You can do this will all kinds of healthy foods. Having your meals accessible and ready when you are, is a time saver. Put food in plastic containers, ready to just heat up.
Step 4
Purchase healthy desserts. Desserts that meet our speed requirements are usually processed, high in calories and loaded with fat. If you can't go without dessert, then purchase healthy alternatives. Many companies offer 100-calorie (or lower) packets of their more popular cookies and other items. Yogurts that are flavored to taste like desserts are also a quick, healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Step 5
Slow down. This seems contradictory to the rapid lifestyle, but it will actually end up saving you time and is much healthier. Ann MacDonald, editor, Harvard Health Publications recommends slower as a way to feel full and to enjoy your food. Speed-eating microwave dinners may seem faster, but you will actually wind up eating more if you consume your food faster than your body can process it. Your body recognizes that you are eating, and triggers your brain to tell you that you are full. If you finish your meal before your brain can catch up, you will have to schedule more trips to the kitchen into your day.
